owens



J. B. OWENS. MULTIPLEX TUNNEL KILN; APFUCATION FILED m9. 181mm.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920 2 SHfETS SHEET I.

JOHN B. OWENS, 0F ZANESVILLE. OHIO,

MULTIPLEX-TUNNEL KILN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

Application filed February 18, 1919 Serial No. 277,718.

T 0 all whom it 11mg; concern:

Be it known that'I, JoHN B. Owens, a citizen of the United States, residing at Zanesville. in the county of hluskinguin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in M1lltiplexl'\1nnel Kilns, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a practical and efficient improved multiplx'tunnel kiln wherein a plurality of trainsor ware-bearing oars may concurrently progress, side by side, through the tunnel.

ll'ly improx'ed, tunnel kiln is intended, more particularly, for use in those situations where the clay or other product or ware is so heavy that the use of a Wide car is impractical because of the diilicultv attending its movement and the power which would become neqesgary to propel a train of wide ears through the kiln.

Consequently, the kiln finds particular usefulness in those situations where the use of narrow cars is necessary or advisable, although it is to be understood that I do not restrict the use of the improvements to sin-l1 situations.

The present invention is adapted for use on a tunnel kiln having but one firin g zone, in the firing of brirk and hollow tile. it is preferable, however, to use two or more liring zones, as set forth, for example, in my application Serial No. 249827, filed August 14, 1918.

In my present kiln, a closed partition wall extends lengthwise within the kiln. dividing the tunnel into a plurality of parallel lon 'itudinafly-extending tunnels or vha'inhors, each having its own traok. if it is desired to operate two trunks and trains of cars, a single partition will be provided along the longitudinal center line of the kiln; if three tracks and trains, two partitions, l)l'll\'llllll thr'e sepa 'ate parallel tunnels or compartments. The partition walls have suitable seals for the edges of the car platforms to prevent the heat from passing down below the ear platforms.

The trains of cars, rarryinp the ware or elay products. travel through the tunnel in the same direction on opposite sides oi the partition wall.

The length and height of the partition wall or walls may vary but it is generally desirable that said wall or walls exteml continuously at least from a point in the gem eral region of the stack. through the heating zone or zones, well into, and even through to the 0nd of, the cooling zone,

The partition wall or walls nniv extend rlear up to the lop arrh of the kiln or. slop short at any point below the arr-h. Preferably, the partition wall should extend onlv slightly above the level of the car platforms, with a free space thoreahove. "he elav products or ware on the trains in the re speetive tunnels being; tin walls of said free space, they form a line whirh extends longitudinally between the ear contents allow the our platforms the full length of the partition. This line allows free passage of the heat between the ears from the heat zone to the stack; especially, with the partition extending from the heat zone, through the rooling zone, to the exit end of the kiln, thereby eliminating cold drafts. The heat passes freely through the flue, lengthwise of the kiln, between the ear rontents until it is taken oil, in the region of the stark. hv exlts or fines which causes the heat til spread from the longitudinal llue and to.

pass through the var contents before leaving the tunnel. k

The car rontents may be suiiivientlv wide to overhang; the top of the partition: It is not essential to have the partition extend rlear through the moling zone to the exit end of the kiln except in high heat as the air that would pass between the cars undergoing cooling would he preheated and really assist, instead of retard. mmbustion at the ronibustion rhamhers.

\Vhen the invention is mnhodiml in a three-track tunnel, the ears on the rumor trark would llt-S'rjlllltltl more to the burning: of goods requiring a lower temporal ur. than the good on the (211's of the Hillel! lost trarks, as the same degree ol heal cannot be obtained for the ears on the router lirai-k as for those on the outer trarks Unless multi ple firing zones be employed. as llisvlosud in my appliratiou Serial No. 249%? and as illustrated herein.

1 do not limit myself to any length or strictive, of the invention, as modifications ma he resorted to.

. n the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal seetion, the tannel being broken aeross; disclosing one form of the invention;

Fig. 2. is a perspective. showing a rrosssection through one of the pairs of furnaces, and the partition wall, and also having parts f the unnel hrolren away to show the construction of the partition in the region f the stark and its connections to the latter; 1

Fig. 3, is a vertiralleross section through the kiln and the stash; and

Fig. 4, is a vertical (rose section through one of the pairs of furnares. showing a modification employing two partition walls and three compartments or subdivisions of the tunnel to aeconimrnlate three trains of ears.

My present invention ma he earried out in a tunnel kiln having hut one firing zone and one furnaee or pair of furnaces but it is shown in the drawings as embodied in a tunnel kiln having two sets of furnaces and a multiple firing zone. as shown in my application. Ser. No. 24il827,lllttl August H. 1918 as the greatest eliieieney of the invention is obtained when a multiple tiring zone is provided, particularly when three-tracks. in three tunnels, are employed.

The preheating zone appears at l. the null tiple firing zone at .2. the multiple furmu-es are shown at 3, and the cooling zone at l. The rars hearing the ware or clay products. enter the tunnel 5 at the right hand end, Fig. l, and emerge from the left hand end, as indieated hy the arrows. The stack is shown at 6. 7

As in the kiln of my applieation. b er. No. 249327. the furnaees are tired in the diree tion of their length. that is. longitudinally thereof. parallel to the lziln tunnel the openings 7. 8. in each instance being for the admission of the firing: means. such as a souree of oil supply, and for the admission of air.

Extending longitudinally of the tunnel 5, along the median line thereof, is a partition wall 9 which suhdivides the tunnel into two longitudinal chambers or compartments l0. 11, each being open the entire length of the tunnel. Ea'oh com 'iartment has its own set of tracks 12 and in each eompartinent a train of ears, of any desired kind, for earrying the ware or (lay products. is adapted to travel. as shown at 13 and 11-. on the said tracks 12. The cars. and trains eonu'iosml of the cars. travel side hr side in the same direction through the respei'live r mpart merits or ('hamhers 1U. ll. The partition wall is closed so that, in eonnei'tiou with the stacks of clay products on the cars. the heat and products of comhustion from the insnaee will be compelled to travel lergj ise of the tunnel of the kiln.

The length of the partition wall 9 and the location of its termini 15, 16, may vary but. preferably, said partition wall should extend continuously from a point in the general region of the stack (3. through the heating zone or zones 2. well into the cool ing" zone 4. or through to the exit end oi the kiln. Iii the drawings. the partition is shown as extending from a point somewhat in advance of the region of the stark. elear through to the exit end of the tunnel.

The partition wall 9 may be of any de sired thickness. depending on conditions to he met in the partieular kiln heing installed. The partition will. however. he provided with suitahle seals 17 for the edges of the ear platforms. and the kiln walls will have similar seals lb. to prevent the heat from ahove the cars from having: aem-ss to the spare helow the ears.

The partition wall may run elear up to the crown of the arch at the top of the kiln. or. it may stop short at any desired height. Preferably. the top oi the partition i s low down. that is. just ahove the level oi the ear platforms. as shown in the drawings. If desired. the car contents may he siaelted so that they will overhang the top of the partition wall 9.

As shown. there is a free space lwtween the ware or clay products on the adiacent trains of ears which constitutes a tine 19 whose hottom [he upper fare of the partition 9. and whose sides are defined by the ware or day products on the cars. This line extends lengthwise of the hiln the full length of the partition and allows free passage ol the heat hetween the cars. as it flows from the firing zone. to the stark.

l lxit luvs 2 21 take the heat oil from the respective tunnels or ehamhi-rs lli. ll to a line 22. leading to staek (l. Dampers $3 control the tines 2 21 for the regulation of the draft. The films 211.21. eounnunieate with the rhamla-rs or tunnels ill. it through the walls of the kiln. in the region of the level of the rar platforms, or. at least, the

region oi the lower parts oi the ear con tents. Consequently. the heat from fine it) Spreads through the rlay proilucts or Ware and is drawn to the lower parts thereof, insuring thorough heat distribution.

The elliriency of the kiln is increased by the use of the partition wall 9 which insures a far greater regularity of distribution of the heat flowing from the furnaces to the ware or clay products than is possible if no partition is employed when multiple tracks and cantrains have to he used.

In Fig. l. two partition walls 9, 9 are shown, subdividing the tunnel into three longitudinal compartments 24. 25, 2G, making provision for three parallel trains of My improvements permit the use of norrow cars in those situations Where wide ears are impractical. 7

What I claim is:

1. In a tunnel kiln havin tracks extending side by sir e lengthwise 0f the kiln. oars operating on. said tracks which are adapted. to carry the were or clay products through the kiln, a closed partition rising between the car platforms and extending lengthwise of the kiln between the sets of tracks, the walls of said kiln being imperforate where they face the partition, and means'for scaling those parts of the tunnel which are below the cars from those parts which are above the cars, whereby the partition and the were or clay prmlucts on the cars define a longitudinal line in the kiln con'ipelling the passage of thc heat and products of combustion lengthwise of the tunnel ol the kiln.

in a tunnel kiln havin a pin ality of tracks extending side by si( e lengthwise of the kiln, cars operating on said tracks which arc adapted to carry the ware or clay products through the kiln, a closed )artition rising bctwcon the car platforms ant extending lengthwise of the kiln between the sets of tracks whose top is located below the rowal Hf tlokiln, the walls of said kiln being nnpeirtorate where thy face the part1- tion. and mcans for sealing those parts oi the tunnel which arc below the cars from those which are above the cars, whereby the partition and tho ware or clay products on the cars drtinc a longitudinal fluc in the kiln compelling the passage of the hcat and products oi" ("(HllllllH-llfill lengthwise of the tunnel of the kiln.

IS. tunnel kiln. provided with one or more closed partitions extending in the dircl'lioli of its length, said partition or partilions sulnlividing the kiln into a plurality ol' roiu mrlniouui or chambers, means for a plurality of conveying were or clay products through the res ective com artments or chambers, the wa ls of said iln being imperforate where they face the partition or partitions, combustion chambers for delivering heat into the kiln, means for sealing those parts of the chambers or com artments below the conveying means from t 1086 parts which are located above the conveying means, and means for taking the draft off in the region of the lower parts of the ware or clay products, said ware or clay products in the tunnel defining. in connection-with the partition or partitions a longitudinal flue or llucs according to whether one or more partitions are provided, said flue or flucs compelling the passage of the heat and products of combustion lengthwise of the tunnel of the kiln.

4. A tunnel kiln having a firing zone and a cooling zone and provided with one or more closcd partitions extending in the dircction of its length from a point in tho fir ing zone to a point in the cooling zone, combustion chambers. means for conveving ware or clay products through the tunncl, means for scaling the spacc below the w: re conveying means from the space thercabove, the ivaro or clay products defining in the tunnel. in connection with the partition or partitions one or more longitudinally extending fines according to the number of partitions employed. said line or fines completing the passage of the heat and products of combustion lengthwise of the tunnel of the kiln. and means for taking the draft off in the region of thc advance portion of the partition or partitions, and of the lower parts of the car contents whereby the heat and products of combustion from the coinbastion chambers pa between the ware and longitudinally along the line or lines to the point of takcoll' and thence through the ware to the draft takculf.

Tn testimony whereof I allix my signature.

JOHN B. OWENS. 

